ISSI REPS Receive Awards, Grants During the SULONG REPS Colloquium 2025
Several UP ISSI Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS) received UP Diliman REPS Chair Awards and REPS Development Grants (RDF) during the SULONG REPS Colloquium 2025 held at the Benito Sy-Pow Auditorium, College of Architecture, UP Diliman, on November 7, 2025.
Ron Allan Estrebillo, Allysa Anne Mari De Guzman, and Senedith De Los Reyes were honored with REPS Chair Awards, while RDF Grants were awarded to Joanna Rose Laddaran, Nova Navo, and Allysa Anne Mari De Guzman.
Organized by the University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, and the REPS Welfare Council, the Colloquium aimed “to showcase and promote the diverse achievements and contributions of UP Diliman REPS to the UP Community and their respective fields, while also fostering academic collaboration through fellowship.”
Thirty-two oral presentations were delivered during the whole-day event. Three cluster representatives of REPS gave plenary lectures, while 13 Chair Awardees, five RDF Grantees, and 14 Open Call presenters shared their work in three simultaneous sessions.
Highlights of the presentations delivered by ISSI REPS Chair Awardees and RDF Grantees are summarized below:
REPS Chair Awardees
Ron Allan Estrebillo
Strengthening MSME Sustainability through Training, Research, and Extension
“MSMEs in the Philippines, which comprise the majority of businesses in the country, employ 60% of the workforce and contribute 40% of the country’s GDP. This immense role gives them the potential to significantly contribute to sustainability. The relationship between MSMEs and sustainability is two-way: MSMEs benefit from integrating sustainability measures into their operations, while also contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In response, the UP ISSI has been implementing programs that integrate sustainability into its training, research, extension, and advocacy initiatives. These include modules introducing sustainability to managers and start-ups, a full training program and research publications on business continuity planning, a research project on the circular economy, and advocacy for sustainability through alternative learning methodologies.
The UP ISSI continues to strive in its role of helping MSMEs become sustainable and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.”
Allysa Anne Mari De Guzman
Reimagining Entrepreneurial Learning: The UP ISSI COPE Approach
“Over the last seven years—three of which were during the pandemic—we have served street vendors, community entrepreneurs, home-based entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship students, among others. Through the COPE Program, we hope to continue serving the marginalized sector through entrepreneurship education, ultimately to build an MSME sector that is relevant, resilient, and responsive to the times.”
Senedith A. De Los Reyes
Start Your Engines: Turning Ideas into Impact with the 2025 JEEP Project
Through the Joint Entrepreneurship Extension Program (JEEP), which she leads, Sendy shared how turning ideas into action began when compassion became action, and action led to transformation. She emphasized the importance of engaging different stakeholders in developing projects.
JEEP’s journey involved working with partners and communities—not ahead of or behind them. Establishing bridges and platforms for collaboration was key during implementation. It was when people felt empowered that they were able to create sustainable results.
REPS Development Fund Grantees
Joanna Rose Laddaran
HANDA Program: Empowering MSMEs and Local Communities to Build Forward Better
“The HANDA Program aims to build a culture of preparedness and resilience among MSMEs through research, advocacy, awareness sessions, and capacity-building training.
The HANDA Program was showcased during the Ignite Stage of the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), co-chaired by the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 5, 2025. It was also among the three Voluntary Commitments presented at the UNDRR’s Learning Lab on June 6, 2025.”
Nova Navo
Rescuing Harvest, Restoring Dignity: Rural Rising Philippines as a Model of Community-Based Agricultural Innovation
“This study examines Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi) as a case of grassroots agricultural innovation addressing persistent structural challenges—low productivity, an aging farmer population (average age 59), and market inefficiencies where 80% of profits are captured by traders. With 63% of climate disaster damages borne by agriculture, the sector faces increasing vulnerability.
Through its Rescue Buy™ model, RuRi directly links smallholder farmers to consumers via digital platforms, reducing post-harvest losses and improving incomes by 35–50%. The research highlights how community-led, market-based mechanisms like RuRi can complement institutional reforms and advance national goals on poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable development.”
Allysa Anne Mari De Guzman
Digital Bridges: UP ISSI’s COPE Program and Its Role in Empowering Pinoypreneurs
“Our experience with COPE shows that digital bridges can create real impact. As we move toward a better normal, we at UP ISSI remain committed to empowering Pinoy and Pinoypreneurs—one webinar, one workshop, one story at a time.”
The event attracted more than 200 REPS attendees, with plans for more colloquia in the future and for the institutionalization of the event among the University’s constituent units.